Oirat

Oirat, also spelled Oyrat, any of the peoples speaking western dialects of the Mongol language group.

In the 13th century the western Mongols were enemies of the eastern Mongols of Genghis Khan’s empire. During the following centuries the western Mongols maintained a separate existence under a confederation known as the Dörben Oirat (Four Allies, from which the name Oirat is derived); at times they were allies, at times enemies, of the eastern Mongols in the Genghis Khan line. Part of the western Mongols remained in their homeland, northern Xinjiang, or Dzungaria, and western Mongolia. Another part of the Oirat ... (100 of 268 words)